Control device



June 11, 1940..; H. A. MANTZ connor. nnvrcg Original Filed Aug. 31. 1931 Patented June 11, 1940l y UNITED VSTATES PATENT 'oFFlcE' CONTROL DEVICE 4Original application August 31, 1931, Serial No.

Divided and this application September 24, 1932, Serial No. 634,708

This invention relates to fluid flow control systems' and more particularly to a control system wherein the fluid flow is controlled from a point remote from the control device, and the control device is provided with automatically operated means for shutting off the ilo,w of fluid.

The present application is a division of my `copending application, Serial No. 560,412,iiled 4 August 31, 1931, and is directed particularly to the thermally operated shut-off for the uid flow control means.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, -I provide a valve adapted to control the flow of fuel to a burner or similar appliance, the quantity of fuel, passing through the valve being controlled from a point remote from thevalve in accordance with any predetermined temperature which it is desired to maintain in the enclosure or enclosures to which the burner supplies heat. It is to be understood that any desired type of burner, remote control device, andl enclosure may be combined in this system.

The valve used for controlling the flow of fuel to the burner is described in detail in my above mentioned copendin'g application, and includes a reciprocating recessed valve stem adapted to be raised and lowered by a pivoted lever connected to the remote control means. A second pivotally mounted latch lever holds the valve stem in any desired position. A thermally actuated latch bolt is adapted to release the latch lever topermit the valve to close unde'r spring pressure.

The latch boltis connected, at its upper end, to a thermally sensitive member responsive to the temperature of a pilot flame, and the extinguishment ofthe pilot flame results inthe automatic closing of the valve. Further, unless the pilot flame is ignited, the fluid flow control valve cannot be opened, due to locking engage#- ment-of the latch lever in the valve stem, which engagement is not released until the pilot flame has caused the thermally sensitive member to move the latch bolt out of locking position.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of thermally controlled means ,for cutting off the' ilow of fuel when the pilot flame is unlgnited, and for. maintaining the control valve closed until the pilot flame is ignited.

Another object of the present invention is to s claims. (criss-117.1)

A further feature of the invention is the supporting of the pilot flame head directlyupon the valve bonnet, and providing for actuation of the valve closing means through the pilot head.

Other objects and advantages of the invention win appear more fully from the following detailed description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, will enable those skilled in the art to understand the construction and operation of a preferred form of in the invention.`

In the drawing: A'

Figure 1 isa vertical sectional view of the control mechanism for controlling the :Iiow of fuel to a burner or thelike; l

Figure2 is a viewin side elevation of the control device for regulating and controlling the control mechanism shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a front view of the control device shown in Figure 2; l 20 Figure 4 is a detail view of the valve stem in raised position; and' `Figure 5 is a detail view of the valve stem during its closing movement, showing the disengagement of the latching means. 25

The present invention dealswparticularly with acontrol system adapted tocontrol the ow of uid fuels. such as gas, to a burner, and with means for igniting the fuel issuingl from the burner, by means of a control device situated at 3o a distance from the control means.

Referring nowin more detail to the drawing. in Figure 1, I have shown a valve having the valve body 5, which valve body is provided .with an inlet chamber 6 and an outlet chamber 1. Suitable conduits 8 and 9 may be threaded into the inlet chamber and outlet chamber respectively, the conduit 8 leading from asuitable'source of fuel Supply, andthe conduit 9 leading to a gas burner or the like. v o

Mounted upon the valve body 5 is a valve bonnet, indicated generally at I0, which is'suitably secured to the valve body by means of cap screws Il, there being a gasket I2 `interposed between the valve bonnet and the valve body.

The valve body 5 is provided with a' threaded valve plug or seat I4, which. is disposed in an opening formed in a partition wall I5 extending between the inlet chamber 6 and the outlet chamber 1, and forming a valve seat for receivingy the l means of the bolt 22.

'I'he valve bonnet I0 is provided with 'a recessed vportion 23, which is adapted to receive the packing material 24, and the washer 25, there being a spring 26 interposed between the retaining member I9 and the washer 25 for urging the valve stem 2| downwardly to close the valve. The valve bonnet I is also provided with a vertically extending channel 28, which, at its upper end, receives the threaded nipple member 29, this nipple member providing for a continuation of the channel andterminating at its upper end in a plug member 30 adapted t'o form, in conjunction with the tip 3 I, a tip or jet opening into the chamber 32 formed in the pilot head housing indicated generally at 33. A key 34 is adapted to hold the plug 38 in position with respect to the pilot head 33, and a continuous fuel passage from the inlet chamber 6 through the channel 28 and nipple 29 to the jet 3| is thus provided. i

Disposed concentrically above the jet 3|, and opening into the chamber 32, 'is'a Venturi bushing 35, which provides for admixture of air entering the chamber 32 and uid fuel issuing from the jet 3| to form a combustible mixture within the laterally extending channel 36 leading to the pilot flame port openings 31. A suitable hood 38 is secured about the pilot flame ports 31, by means of the screw 39, toprovide for protection of the pilot flame, indicated at 4U, against drafts and air currents.

The hood 38 is provided with a slotted portion 4|, through which 'a portion of the pilot ame 48 is adapted to extend. Secured to the upper portion of the pilot iiame head 33 is the thermal sensitive member 43, which comprises the two metallic strips 43aI and 43h, which are suitably soldered or otherwise secured together, the strips having different coeflicients of expansion. The strip 43h preferably has a greater coefficient of expansion than the strip 43a. x

The thermally sensitive member 43 is secured to the pilot flame headby means of the bolt 44, and extends forwardly to a position adjacent the slot 4| formed in the hood 38, and is then doubled back and its extending end is connected, by means of rivets 45, to an extension strip 46, which strip 46 receives a threaded stud 41 at its opposite end, there being a lock nut 48 provided for adjustably positioning the stud 41 infxed position with respect to the strip 46.

The stud 41 abuts the upper end of a motion transmitting' rod 49, which extends downwardly through the chamber 32 and into a recess 50 formed in the valve stem 2|. 'I'he rod 49 has bearing support in a boss formed in the pilot head 33, and there is a recess 52 provided for receiving the upper end of the valve stem 2 I.

The valve stem 2| is recessed, as pointed out, at 58, this recess extending for a substantial distance downwardly through the' axial bore of *the stem. The valve stem is also provided with a plurality of angular depressions or teeth 53 near its upper external surface,-and with av notch 54 adjacent its lower external surface. The stem is adapted to have reciprocatory'. sliding movement with respect to the valve'bonnet I0 and to the pilot name head 33. The means for providing this movement of the valve stem comprises a lever 56, pivoted at 12 to a second lever 81 which is pivotally mounted at 51 to a lateral and vertically extending portion 58 of the valve bon.-

.closed position. -40 actuates, the thermally sensitive member 43 net I8. The lever 81 is adapted to have a 4pin and slot connection with the valve stem 2|, this connection being indicated diagrammatically at 58.

The control device indicated generally at 68 in Figure 2 is adapted to be connected, by means of the exible cable 6|, to the opposite end of the lever 56, and, as described in d etail in my copending applicatiomis adapted to provide for raising or lowering of the lever to raise or lower the valve stem for controlling the flow of fuel through the valve 5. A spring 62 connected between the valve bonnet and offset extension 63 of the lever 56, is' adapted to provide the proper tension upon the cable 6|, and to return Y the lever 56 to lowered position when the control device 60 is rotated toward ofi position.

The valve bonnet I0 is also provided with an enlarged recessed portion 65, which is adapted to receive the latch lever 66, carried by the pivot pin 61. At its lower end, the latch lever 66 is provided with a detent portion 68 which is adapted to be engaged in the notch 54 formed in the valve stem 2|, and when. in engaged position,

prevents raising of the valve stem 2|, thus maintaining the valve in closed position.

At its upper end, the lever 66 is provided with a cam surface 69, adapted to be engaged by a pin 10 carried by an extending end 1I of lever 56. When in the position shown in Figure 1, bthe pin 10 bears against the cam surface 6 8 of the lever 66, the valve being closed. Lever 66 is held in this position by.spring [62, the latch lever 66 being held locked in detent 54. Upon upward movement of cable -6 I', lever 56 rotates about pin 12, releasing lever 66,a.nd causing pin 10 to engage in the groove in the upper edge of lever 81, making the levers 56 and 61 rigid for upward movement about pivot 51. Further upward movement of cable 6| therefore moves levers 56 and 81 as -a unit about pivot 51, tending to open the valve if the pilot flame is ignited, as will be hereinafter described. When the lever 56 is lowered, spring 62 causes lever 56 to pivot about pivot 12, the pin 10 moving into engagement against the cam surface 69 of latch lever 66 to allow the valve stem 2| to drop under pressure of the spring 26. 'Ihe lowering of the valve stem will pull lever 81 downwardly. Downward movement of lever 81 causes lever 56 to rotate about its cable end,v moving link-1| in a clockwise direction to l engage pin 1|) upon lever 81, thereby limiting the lowering movement of the valve stem as determined by the position of cable 6|. Between the cam surface 69 and the pivot 61 of the lever 66, a tooth or dog member 13 is provided, which is adapted to engage in the4 depressions or teeth 53 of the valve stem to hold the stem in raised position when it has been lifted by the levers 56 and 81. A spring member 14 is adapted to normally urge the lever 66 into this engaged posithe@ tion.-

Disposed within the recessed portion 58 of valve stem 2| is a latch actuating/bolt 16, having the reduced portion 11which portion 11 has camming engagement with a latch Jolt pin 18.

When the bolt is in the position shown in Figure 1, the pin 18 is forced outwardly to space the dog 13 from the teeth 53, and to engage the detent 68 in the notch 54, to hold the valve in However, when the pilot ame to cause it to warp away from the. pilot head 33,

the strip 46 is adapted to lift the stud 41 up- `48 in the recess 88 formed at the upper` end of the bolt 18, and the bolt is forced upwardly the reduced camsurface 11 c! the bolt to engage the latch bolt pin 18, and the pin 18 is forced inwardly into the recess 88 of the valve stem by means of the spring 14, the detent 88 being released irom the notch 54, allowing the levers 58 and 81 to pull the valve stem 2| upwardly to open the valve, as previously described. The movement of the valve stem 2| is determined by the rotation of the control device 88, and, as indicated inFigure 3, this rotation is determined by the temperature'which it is desired to maintain. A suitable dial or `indicia carrying member. 84 is provided, having the indications 85 thereon. Rotation of the control'device 88 brings the pointer 88 selectivelyinto position with respect to the markings or indications 85. and this rotation determines the extent to which the lever58 is rotated into locking engagement with lever 81 and pulled upwardly. The spring 14 forces the dog 18 to engage selectively the teeth 58 carried upon tent 88 into engagement with the notch 84, thus preventing opening of the valve by rotation of the member 88. After the pilot flame has been ignited, the expansion of the thermally sensitive member raises the rod 48, thus allowing thebolt 18 to move upwardly, allowing the pin 18 to move inwardly into the recess 58,. which permits the spring 14 to disengage the detent 8l from the notch 84, and to engage the dog 18 with the desired teeth 88 on the external surface of the valve `stein as the valve Vstem is raised by the levers 88 and 81. The latch lever 88 thus holds the valve stem in any desired raised position.

If the pilot flame should be accidentally extinguished, the downward movement of the rod 48 will force the bolt downwardly, and thus force the latch bolt pin 18 outwardly to disengage the dog 18 from the teeth 58, and the valvelwlllclose under-the action'of spring 28, the valve stem, when reaching closed position, being held therein by the engagement of the detent 88 in the i notch 84.

This operation is shown more in detail in Figures 4 and 5, VFigure .4 showing the raised position of the valve stem-2|, with the dog engaging the teeth 88, and with the button 18 disposed out of engagement with the lever 88, the detent 88 of the Vlever being spaced away from the surface o! the valve stem.' As the pilot flame becomes extinguished the rod 48 forces the member` 18 downwardly. as shown in Figure 5, and forces the button 18 outwardly into engagement with the surface 88' of the lever 88. This releases the dog 18 from engagement with `the teeth 58, and the valve Nstem closes under the actuation of spring 28. surface 88 of the lever, it engages the cammed surface 8| disposed immediately above the pivot forces the upper end of the lever 88 outwardly As the button 18 rides down theA The button,A upon engaging this surlace,l

to agreater extent, and at the same time forces the detent 88 into the groove 54 in the valve This results in locking of the valve in closed position. The relative proportions and spacing of the .cam surfaces 88 and 8l, and of the' dog 18 and detent 88, are such as to provide for disengagement of both the dog 18 and detent 88 to permit closing of the valve stem under the actuation of spring 28, the button 18 engaging the cam surface 8l to engage the detent in the groove 54 for locking the valve in closed position. i

When the valve has been opened, and it is desired to move it toward closed position, but not to close the valve, the remote control deviceV 88 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, thus releasing the tension on the cable 8|. The spring 82 urges 4the lever 58 downwardly about 4pivot 12, which allows the pin 10 to rotate out of the groove in lever 81 and to move slightly about the cam surface 88 of the latch lever. exerting an outward pull upon the latch lever to disengage the dog 18. The valve stem then moves downwardly under the pressure of the spring 28. When the lever 58 reaches thel position desired, the lever 81, because of its connection at 58 to the valve stexn will be pulled downwardly, and thus the pin 18 .will move away from cam surface 88 and will move into the groove in the upper edge of lever 81 to make the levers rigid for movement aboutpivot 51, thus allowing the latch lever 88 to move to theright under the pressure of the spring 14 to engagethe dog 18 with the valve stem to hold it in its lowered position. l

Thus it is apparent that I have provided a valve in' combination with a remote control device and a thermally actuated shut-off device. whereby thevalve cannot be opened unless the ignition means is ignited, and whereby, upon failure of the pilot llame or ignition means, the

valve will be automatically closed. Further, I have provided a valve which is adapted tobe held in any desired position, and which is opened or closed by means positioned atV a point remote from the valve. i

I do not intend, however, to be limited to the exact details oi construction shown and described in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

'I claim:

.1. In combination, a Valve housing, a. normali closed valve therein having an axially bored valve stem, a pilot burner for maintaining a pilot flame,-

locking means for preventing opening of said valve whenV said llame is ungnited, and lmeans responsive to said flame and including a bolt slid- Fable in said valve stem and provided with connecting means extending between said bolt and said locking means for disengaging said locking means upon ignition of said flame, and means for opening said valve.

2. 'In combination, a valve housing, a valve therein having a reciprocal valve stem, a pilot burner supported on said housing, means engaging said valve stem for opening said valve, spring means normally tendingto close said valve, means engaging said valve stem for latching said valve in open or: closed position, means responsive to the heat of said pilot burner, and means actuated by saidv heat responsive means for releasing said latching means from engagement with said valve stem. L

'3. Infcombination, a valve housing, af valve `therein having a valve stem mounted for reciprocal movement in said housing,-means forraising said stem to open said valve,fspring means biasringsaid valve tovclosed position, a pilot burner 5 supported on said housing, said ,valve stem having a series of depressions and a notch` formed'l in the surface thereof, means selectively engaging in said depressions to hold said valve in selected open position and having means engageable in 10 said notch to hold said valve in closed position,

and means responsive to the heat of said pilot burner including means for veiecting release of said engaging means.

4. In a device o'f the class described, a valve v15 housing, a valve therein having a reciprocal valve of-said pilot dame including means for control-V -ling movement of said latch actuating bolt.

5.` In a device of the class described, a valve housing, a valve and valve stem reciprocal therein,

said stem having an axially extending bore, means for raising and lowering said stem to open and close the valve, a latch actuating bolt slidable in-said bore, a connecting pin carried in the defining, wall of said bore, means for latching said stem in raised or lowered position, said pin engaging said holding means, a pilot burner for maintaining a pilot ame, and means including means responsive to the heat of said flame for controlling movement of said bolt to actuate said holding means through said pin.

6. In combination, a valve housing, a valve lmember therein, a pilot burner for maintaining a pilot iiame, means including means responsive to the heat of said flame for locking the valve member in closed position when said burner is unignited, means for opening'said valve member when said flameis ignited, spring means normally tending to close said valve, and latching means for holding said valve member in open position, said latching means being disengaged from said valve member by said heat responsive means to provide for closing of said valve member by said spring means upon extinguishment of said flame.

HAROLD A. MANTZ. 

